I would like to see the credit used only for filmmakers that direct, write, photograph and produce the film. Robert Rodriguez deserves a "film by" credit for "Once Upon a Time in Mexico." As far as well known directors he's the only one I can think of that does all four of those jobs.

Another idea is if the credit went to the executive producer, director, cinematographer and writer. So, if you wrote and directed, had an executive producer and a cinematographer it would say, "A film by Dumbass, Idiot, Dipshit and Git" or something like that. If anyone deserves a "film by" credit alone it's not the director. It's the executive producer. They put the film together from beginning to end. It's an average three to four year process and they are the most influential person on the film. The director answers to them. The idea that the director is the most important person on the set has been shoved down our throat for years. It's just not true. During the production the director is responsible for the perfomances. It's the cinematographer who's responsible for the look of the film. So when you look at a film like "Minority Report" it's just as much Janusz Kaminski's film as it is Spielberg's. Shit, Speilberg wasn't even a producer on the thing. Not that anyone would tell The God of Hollywood what to do. It would be nice if they got rid of the credit, but I suppose that's hoping for too much.

I don't really have a problem with the people I listed getting the credit. I think that these directors have a really strong idea of how they want the film to turn out, and they work with the crew to achieve it. I know Spielberg doesn't sit back and say "do whatever you want" to Kaminski. He storyboards everything before they start shooting. He knows what he wants it to look like already. I don't think it's a coincidence that you can watch a few minutes of any Kubrick film and know it's directed by Kubrick. I also can't see telling Robert Altman that his producers have more to do with the film than he does.

It's a mistake to say that in all cases the director is the author of the film, but it's equally mistaken to go too far the other way and imply that Spielberg or Altman or Anderson or Scorsese are just employees.

When I'm a famous filmmaker, my opening credits are going to say "A Film By the Following:" and then list the usual opening credits: producers, writers, editors, etc.

It will be interesting to see if any "gray" areas pop up with the new rules. I am not saying there will, but it could happen. You just never know what someone will throw a hissey fit over, like if someone without a name gets a "film by" credit because of technically and barely reaching the requirements, or someone who really deserves it doesn't quite make it. A lot of that is subjective. I guess if there is a question they can always assume it wasn't "by" them.

I watched "City Lights" last night, a "film by" Charlie Chaplin. He produced it, directed it, and starred in it. He also paid for its production and wrote the music. I'd have to say that is a perfect example of a proper "film by," eh? :-)

Good flik. I highly recommend it. It is now my favorite silent film, though I must admit I have only seen about a half dozen or so.